Following a tough defeat to the Penn State Wrestling team, Iowa’s rising star Gabe Arnold did not hold back in sharing his thoughts on the team’s showing. The Hawkeyes have put together a solid 9-3 season, with Arnold racking up wins at 184 pounds.
Born in 2005, Arnold arrived at Iowa for the 2023-24 season, bringing with him a stellar high school legacy.
Gabe Arnold On Loss To Penn State Wrestling Team
Bouncing back from their setback against the Nittany Lions, Iowa surged to a 22-14 victory over the No. 6 Nebraska Cornhuskers on January 23rd at the Bob Devaney Center in Lincoln.
The triumph over Nebraska was a milestone for head coach Tom Brands, marking his 300th win at the helm. At 184 pounds, Arnold clinched the decisive match against No. 7 Silas Allred, avenging last season’s split with a 4–1 victory. Earlier, Arnold had dropped a close 4–2 bout to top-ranked Levi Haines of Penn State while competing at 174 pounds.
In an interview after their victory over Nebraska, Arnold expressed his feelings about the win and the loss to Penn State. (0:08 onwards)
“A lot of good things happened. I got to a variety of attacks, with feet and hands moving really well and sharp fakes. Overall, wrestling felt solid – a definite step forward after that close loss to Penn State. It wasn’t what I wanted, especially going toe-to-toe with such an accomplished opponent; you want to win those matches. People talk about it being close, but I don’t care about close – I want to win every time and get my hand raised. Foot in the right direction, but just got to keep building,” he stated.
Next up, the Hawkeyes return home to face Minnesota on Friday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m., eager to ride the momentum of their latest win.
MORE: Mitchell Mesenbrink Reflects on Doing What Feels Right Amid Penn State Wrestling Run
The Penn State wrestling team continues to prove why it is the top-ranked team in NCAA Wrestling this season, posting an 11-0 overall record as it looks to retain its crown. Last season, they won the national team title, with standout performances coming from Carter Starocci, who became the first five-time NCAA champion, and Mitchell Mesenbrink, who also claimed an individual title.
The Nittany Lions now turn their focus to Nebraska, set to clash on Friday, Jan. 30, at 8 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center, with national coverage on the B1G Network. Riding high after back-to-back shutout wins in under 24 hours, Penn State aims to deliver another dominant performance.
